Nov 11, 2013 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg Borough Council approved a tentative budget for 2014 Monday that will hold the line on property taxes next year.

Council voted to advertise a proposed budget that lists expenditures at $1,543,090, which represents about a $90,000 increase over this year’s spending plan.

Taxes in the borough will remain at 9 mills, borough manager Mike Simm said. The proposed budget is fairly similar to this year’s budget in regard to income and expenditures, Simms said

The general fund lists $658,745 for public safety, which includes police; $648,820 for miscellaneous expenses, including hospitalization, retirement and insurance; $146,125 for general government; $66,000 for public works and $23,100 for recreation.

Council also approved a sewage fund budget of $810,235, which includes salaries for public works employees and a highway aid fund budget of $84,624.

In other business, engineer Dan Haught of Fayette Engineering gave council an update on plans for the borough’s proposed sewage project, riling several members when he mentioned council may have to increase sewage rates to be eligible for state funding through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, or PENNVEST.

PENNVEST normally wants a community that is applying for its low-interest loans to charge a “target rate” of $40 to $50 a month, he said. The borough’s average rate is about $30 a month.

Haught asked council if it wanted him to prepare a rate study to determine how the borough could raise rates gradually to reach the target rate.

Councilman Dar Fitch said, however, he would oppose any rate increase. The rate “is high enough as it is,” he said.

Councilman Mark Fischer said he could understand a rate hike might be necessary because the project must be done, but he, too, would oppose a rate hike just to meet PENNVEST requirements.

Councilman Miles Davin argued improvements to the sewage system are necessary and the borough will have to get money somewhere to make the payments for the project. It was noted PENNVEST normally offers the lowest loan rates.

Haught was asked to conduct a study to see how much residents in other areas of the county are paying for sewage. Waynesburg might have one of the lowest rates around, said councilman Larry Marshall.

Haught said he would contact PENNVEST to get a better idea of what the target rate should be for a community like Waynesburg.

The borough is required by the state Department of Environmental Protection to separate its storm sewers from its sanitary sewers and to halt infiltration of its sewage system from water in Ten Mile Creek. The project is estimated to cost $4 million.

Haught also reported he expects to have the project’s preliminary design completed by the end of the month. Council agreed to hold a workshop at 6 p.m. Dec. 16 to review and discuss the plans.

Council also discussed asking state police to help the borough enforce speeding on High Street. In Pennsylvania, only state police can use radar. Davin suggested the borough contact state police to see if they would be willing to operate radar in the borough with the assistance of borough police.